Evaluation of our Assessment Piece - Catherine Middleton

Use of the Camera-

Generally, we had steady shots, but after looking at the final piece I’m not happy with the shot across the lake as the camera shakes and jolts and doesn’t flow smoothly.  Most of the framing was good –i.e. using the rule of thirds and allowing enough head room. However, sometimes we broke this rule (e.g. the CU of his face, using a slightly canted angle – this worked due to it showing his confusion.) Some shots weren’t framed correctly, for example the shot showing him walking towards the water doesn’t give enough lead room and occasionally we crop out some of his body/head. We tried to follow both the 30 and 180 degree rules where possible and this worked successfully I think. We tried to use a range of shots – mainly using CU’s and MS’s in order to show detail and emotions of his face, as well as LS’s to establish location and space/movement. We also used a canted angle (MCU of him) to show confusion, and high angles to show power and make him look vulnerable. We didn’t use too much camera movement other than simple pans and tracking, for example in the MS/LS following him as he moves towards the water. I think we maybe could have improved our use of camera movement by making the pan on the LS across the lake a lot smoother as it looks really jolty.

Use of Editing –

I think our shots flow really nicely – it’s not to jumpy or too quick and sets a good pace to make the scene feel worrying and to make you feel apprehensive about what’s coming next. I think the transitions and effects work really well, especially the mumbling of the voices and slight fade to black and white rather than a bright colour shot during the MS/POV shot walking towards him as he sits of the bench – it adds to the creepy atmosphere and the creates more suspense, making the viewer feel uncomfortable and worried for the main character and what could happen.

Selection of Content –

I don’t think we chose appropriate actors really as the quality of the acting could be improved and distracts from the story and camera work.  However, the location worked really well I think –quite isolated, making it feel quite unnerving. I think the costume could be improved as the colours of his clothes seem too bright and set a happier tone than we would want for a horror film, perhaps all black would be better. I think the pendant was maybe slightly girly but worked well in terms of shape and size!

Self-Assessment –

I mainly contributed to the planning and filming stages, rather than the editing. I drew out our shots into a storyboard and wrote up our shot list ready for shooting our film. I then helped shoot the sequence by operating the camera and adjusting our planned shots to accommodate our exact location and weather etc. I think overall some shots could be improved in terms of framing and composition and the acting could be of better quality, but generally I was really happy with our film.

Catherine Middleton